NAME GAME: Some television anchors might still be having trouble figuring out how to pronounce it, but on the street here, Illinois Senate candidate and convention keynoter Barack Obama has entered the no-last-name needed Madonna/Bono/Beyonce world. One well-heeled delegate was name-dropping, "I hear Barack is having a party tonight."

POLICE BRUTALITY: I saw a Boston cop exiting a stall at the Sheraton Back Bay ladies' room, struggling to wrestle back into her belt that had a Glock, handcuffs and a bunch of other stuff attached.

"You've got to take twenty pounds on and off every time you go," she said. She ought to know. She's weighed the thing. As if this is news: It's still a man's world.

CASHING IN: The Sheraton has the most comprehensive selection of fairly routine Kerry-Edwards campaign junk, selling briskly at a table in the lobby.

This stuff is really expensive--$10 for a shot glass and $22 T-shirts. Best bang for the buck: bumper stickers (3 for $5) that say, "Democrats are HOT. Ever hear of a 'Fine Piece of Elephant'?"